This Is Why You Get Dark Circles When You Don't Get Enough Sleep

The under-eye area is delicate and requires special care by way of creams, serums, and masks. According to dermatologist Marina Peredo, M.D., the area around the eyes is the first part of the body to begin aging. Dr. Peredo explains to the Strategist that "The skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin on the body. It's also an area with very little structural support since the eyes sit in a hole called the eye socket. The eyeballs are held in place by muscles and ligaments, but the skin there has very little support."

Aging in the eye area can result in fine lines (often called crow's feet) and puffiness, as well as dark circles, which can be caused by the veins below the skin, shadows cast by "hollowed" out eyes due to loss of volume, or even a hyperpigmentation under the eye causing a darkening effect (via Strategist). The Mayo Clinic reports that there could be alternate reasons for under-eye circles, including allergies, eczema, sun exposure, and fatigue.

Battling the bags and bluish-purple, or sometimes darker, under-eye circles can be challenging, especially as you get older, but before spending your life savings on specialty creams, you may want to take a closer look at your sleeping patterns.

Healthline reports that when sleep is escaping you, especially for a few days or more, your skin can lose its glow and even become pale, which amplifies the darker tissue as well as the blood vessels under that delicate eye area. Sleep deprivation can also cause a buildup of fluid under the eyes, creating that puffy look. The Hindustan Times explains that oversleeping can cause fluid buildup in the face and under eye area, which can also cause dark circles and puffiness.

The experts at Byrdie share that dark under-eye circles can be hereditary, due to fat and bone loss, or from allergies, and that a combination of these factors along with unhealthy sleep patterns can magnify the problem. Along with working toward a better night's sleep, to help reduce dark circles you can keep allergies under control, wear sunscreen, avoid smoking, and moisturize with a targeted under-eye cream.